Catholic Schools Week shines light on faith-based education

Though faith and religion are typically excluded in public schools, they are two of the main reasons parents in Ionia County send their children to a Catholic school.

This week is Catholic Schools Week, which allows the schools to celebrate who they are in terms of faith, academics and service. Almost 6,000 students make up the Diocese of Grand Rapids, including 27 elementary schools and four high schools.

For students who attend St. Patrick Catholic School in Portland, St. Joseph Catholic School in Pewamo and Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic School in Ionia, religion is a large part of each day.

"(Parents) want a faith-based education. They believe in the importance of their faith and the impact it should have on their children," said St. Pat's principal Randy Hodge.

Hodge, St. Joseph principal Patricia O'Mara and SSPP principal Julie Baty said religion is prevalent throughout the entire day, with students involved in prayers, religion as a separate subject and faith being incorporated into traditional subjects including social studies, English and science. Depending on grade, students also prepare for receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, their first Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Confirmation.

To help her teaching staff, O'Mara said she uses Internet resources including www.whatiflearning.com and www.BibleGateway.com.

"Our school theme this year is 'We Walk by Faith,' but it goes beyond that because in its entirety the phrase is 'We walk by faith and not by sight,'" said O'Mara.

Baty said staff members of SSPP are able to bring Catholicism to the forefront each day.

"We intersperse faith throughout the day in everything we do," said Baty. "We also do lots of service activities with the students."

Apart from curriculum, students attend Mass at least once each week in addition to holidays or religiously significant days.

Hodge said students participate in wreath lightings during Advent and stations of the cross during Lent. High school students also attend a retreat in the fall season.

SSPP service projects include donating items to the Zion Community Food Pantry on a regular basis, Baty added.

Students who attend Catholic schools do not have to be of the denomination, but still follow the same curriculum and are required to attend Mass during the week. Baty said while SSPP students who are not Catholic cannot participate in receiving the Holy Eucharist, they can receive a blessing from the priest.

"We certainly strive to have everyone involved," Baty added.

Hodge said parents of non-Catholic St. Pat's students are encouraged to discuss differences between the denominations, which can help the students more deeply understand Catholicism and their own denomination's teachings.

Above all else, Baty, Hodge and O'Mara said they believe they have the opportunity to help enrich the lives of their students with infusing religion into all aspects of education.

"Our goal is to set up our graduates with a foundation of the skills they will need to be successful in life. Having a moral basis for decision making, a strong work ethic and great academic skills and knowledge really are a foundation for life-long success," Hodge said.

O'Mara said the Pewamo community, parish and school function as one body.

"There is a cohesiveness within this small parish community that provides its members with faith ... faith that sees us through our ups and downs ... faith that keeps us together. Here we are among family and friends that care deeply about providing our children with the opportunity to do their best academically and in service to God," she said.